Serving YouServing the constituents of the 36th Senate District is very important to me, and I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You may call toll-free at 1-855-347-8036 or email senjstamas@senate.michigan.gov. Also, please check out my Facebook page. Let me know if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward.

On Memorial Day, I was honored to participate in local ceremonies in Midland, Coleman and Sanford to pay tribute to the brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom. Each ceremony reminded us of the real-life heroes we have lost over the years, all they fought and died to protect, and the families they left behind.

Pettalia memorial highway bill nearly lawI recently joined Rep. Sue Allor, R-Wolverine, and Karen Pettalia before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in support of my legislation to permanently honor Karen’s late husband, former Rep. Peter Pettalia, who died in 2016 in an accident while traveling down to the Capitol for session.

In May, the Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 622 to designate the portion of U.S. 23 in Presque Isle County between Maple Drive and Misiak Highway as the “Peter A. Pettalia Memorial Highway.” It is now pending before the House.

Pete was a commonsense public servant who was dedicated to improving the lives of the people in Northern Michigan. To those of us who were blessed to know him, he was a good friend who loved life, his family, his community and the entire state.

Rep. Pettalia served three terms in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2011 until his untimely death in September 2016. Pete enjoyed traveling throughout the Sunrise Side along Heritage Route 23, and naming part of that route would be a fitting tribute to his life and his tremendous impact. Although Pete is missed very much, this tribute would ensure that he is never forgotten. [read more]

Senate approves Stamas fire safety billThe safety of all Michigan residents would be greatly enhanced if we made sure that someone with proper fire protection expertise was on the state’s Construction Code Commission. My legislation would require that someone on the commission has an extensive background in fire prevention and inspection.

I want to thank Midland Fire Department Chief Chris Coughlin for stepping forward with this idea and for testifying before a Senate committee in support of this commonsense reform. I look forward to working with him and my legislative colleagues to make this a reality.

Senate Bill 279 would require the state fire marshal’s designee on the Construction Code Commission to be certified as a fire protection specialist or as a fire inspector and plans examiner by the National Fire Protection Association.

The 17-member commission was created in 1972 to assist the housing industry in improving the quality of housing for Michigan residents. The bill has been unanimously approved by the Senate and sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate approves government efficiency billsI proudly sponsored legislation as part of a bipartisan package to repeal 29 obsolete, burdensome or duplicative state reports. The Senate has approved 12 Senate bills and will soon approve the companion House measures.

This is about making state government more efficient and effective by cutting out costly and unnecessary reports. Spending time and money on creating reports that are no longer needed and provide little value to the public or Legislature is a waste of taxpayer dollars.

The resources currently being used to do these reports could be put to better use addressing the issues facing Michigan families and businesses every day.

I sponsored two bills in the package. Senate Bill 1000 is the most comprehensive bill in the Senate package and would repeal 16 reporting requirements in the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. One report eliminated by the bill would be one by the state on a fund that has been closed out and has exhausted its resources. [read more]

Enjoy free fishing, off-roading June 9-10 This weekend, Michigan residents and out-of-state visitors can enjoy the state’s Summer Free Fishing Weekend as well as a free off-road vehicle weekend and free entry into all state parks.

Anglers can fish without a license on these two days, though all other fishing regulations still apply. Entry into state public boating access sites, state parks and recreation areas is free of charge. Visit www.michigan.gov/freefishing for more information, including details on sponsored and state park events.

In addition, June 9-10 mark one of the summer’s free ORV weekends, a time off-road enthusiasts can ride Michigan DNR-designated routes and trails without an ORV license or trail permit. Find out more at www.michigan.gov/orvinfo.

To encourage visitors to enjoy free fishing at a state park, the state is also waiving the regular Recreation Passport entry fee that grants vehicle access to Michigan’s 103 state parks. Learn more about the passports at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.

Stay safe during severe weather Summer weather can bring powerful thunderstorms, lightning and high winds, leading to possible power shortages. The Michigan State Police offers suggestions to stay safe during a power outage, including:

• Use only flashlights or emergency lighting — never use candles;• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep food as fresh as possible;• Disconnect appliances and electronics;• Use extreme caution when driving; and• Avoid carbon monoxide by not using grills, unvented gas heaters, generators or ovens in the house.

THE 36TH DISTRICT

The 36th Senate District is made up of 10 counties, which includes: Presque Isle, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Oscoda, Alcona, Iosco, Arenac, Gladwin and Midland counties.

Thank you for subscribing to my electronic newsletter! I am honored to represent you in the 36th Senate District of Michigan. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Please feel free to forward this on to others who may be interested in receiving the 36th District E-news. You may sign up for it also at my website or via Facebook.